On November 2, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy
statement made by its Committee on Infectious Diseases. It is titled
"Prevention of Rotavirus Disease: Guidelines for use of rotavirus vaccine";
the abstract is reprinted below.

ABSTRACT. On February 3, 2006, a bovine-based pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RotaTeq,
Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ) was licensed by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration for use in infants in the United States. The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine immunization of infants with 3 doses
of pentavalent rotavirus vaccine administered orally at 2, 4, and 6 months of
age. The first dose should be administered between 6 and 12 weeks of age;
immunization should not be initiated for infants older than 12 weeks of age.
Subsequent doses should be administered at 4- to 10-week intervals, and all 3
doses of vaccine should be administered by 32 weeks of age. Pentavalent
rotavirus vaccine can be co-administered with other childhood vaccines.
Pentavalent rotavirus vaccine is contraindicated for infants with a serious
allergic reaction to any vaccine component or to a previous dose of vaccine.

Dated 6/30/06, the VISs for trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV;
injectable) and live, attenuated intranasal influenza vaccine (LAIV;
nasal-spray) are available in Haitian Creole and Brazilian Portuguese. Dated
9/11/06, the current version of the interim VIS for herpes zoster (shingles)
vaccine is now available in Spanish. IAC gratefully acknowledges the
Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the Haitian Creole and
Brazilian Portuguese translations and the California Department of Health
Services for the Spanish translation.

Article in AAP News urges health professionals to
provide VISs each time they vaccinate

A short article in the November 2006 AAP News urges health professionals to
provide VISs each time they vaccinate. Written by David Marcus, MD, "Doctor,
Do You Know What a VIS is?" states that providing VISs is both good medicine
and good risk management. It briefly answers a number of questions about VISs
and mentions IAC as a source for VIS translations. To access the article, go
to:
http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/collection/pediatrics_and_the_law
and click on the article title.

IAC recently updated the following professional-education materials with new
vaccine information or with other revisions:

"It's Federal Law! You must give your patients current Vaccine Information
Statements" was revised to provide current information on the vaccines for
which use of a VIS is required under the federal National Childhood Vaccine
Injury Act; other changes were made as well. To access a ready-to-print (PDF)
version of the updated piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/2027law.pdf

"Administering Vaccines: Dose, route, site, and needle size" was updated with
information on administering the vaccines that protect against human
papillomavirus (HPV), rotavirus, and herpes zoster (shingles). To access a
ready-to-print (PDF) version of the updated piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p3085.pdf

"Vaccine Administration Record for Children and Teens" was updated to provide
space for recording administration of the vaccines that protect against human
papillomavirus (HPV) and rotavirus. To access a ready-to-print (PDF) version
of the updated piece, go to:
http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p2022b.pdf

NEHI report examines the barriers to widespread
adoption of the new HPV vaccine

In August 2006, the New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) published the
report "Challenges in Vaccine Policy: A case study of the HPV vaccine." An
overview of the study states the following: "The new HPV [human
papillomavirus] vaccine promises to greatly reduce cervical cancer in women.
But unless there are improvements to the immunization system in the U.S.,
this important innovation will fail to realize its full potential. This study
examines the barriers to widespread adoption of the HPV vaccine and presents
a call to action to strengthen the adoption of all vaccines."

Formed in 2002, NEHI is an independent, not-for-profit organization with
members across the healthcare system. It conducts evidence-based research and
stimulates policy change to improve the quality and value of health care.

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) is a coalition of public,
private, and voluntary organizations dedicated to reducing the incidence of
infection, morbidity, and mortality from viral hepatitis in the United States
through strategic planning, leadership, coordination, advocacy, and research.

NVHR has spent more than two years developing and debating the best way to
prevent unnecessary suffering and death caused by viral hepatitis. In April,
the group released their elimination strategy titled "Eliminating Hepatitis:
A call to action."

NVHR's comprehensive study and discussions with national experts netted four
recommendations:

Build the capacity to address the
challenges of viral hepatitis

Vaccinate America to eliminate
vaccine-preventable viral hepatitis

Counsel, test, and refer persons at risk
for viral hepatitis to inform them about how to reduce their risks

Care for persons with chronic hepatitis and
help them participate in the management of their condition

Over 60 organizations have already signed on
to support the plan.

To download the entire plan (47 pages), the executive summary, or to provide
feedback or support, go to:
http://www.nvhr.org/calltoaction.htm Organizations wishing to officially
support the plan can indicate so via the feedback form.

To join NVHR or for more information, contact Dick Conlon at
rconlon@nvhr.org or (404) 483-2826.

The November 7 issue of Hep Express, an electronic newsletter published by
IAC, is now available online. It is intended for health professionals,
program planners, and advocates involved in prevention, screening, and
treatment of viral hepatitis.

IAC Express has already covered some of the information presented in the
November 7 Hep Express; titles of articles we have not yet covered follow.

FDA approves another drug for the treatment
of chronic hepatitis B

American Liver Foundation's THINK B program
targets Asian Americans

Hepatitis B Foundation offers information
on co-infection

Hep Team program for MSM expands from
Chicago to other cities

2007 calendar with hepatitis B messages for
Asian Pacific Islanders available from WithinReach and the Washington State
API Hep B Task Force

CDC website posts information on shortage of
hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines

On November 3, CDC updated its section on current vaccine delays and
shortages with the following information on the vaccines for hepatitis A and
hepatitis B.

GlaxoSmithKline is currently experiencing temporary supply interruptions
affecting the immediate availability of the pediatric formulation of
hepatitis A vaccine in both the 10-pack vial and 5-pack syringe
presentations. Customers may experience backorders for this pediatric vaccine
and may contact (866) 475-8222 for current information about availability.

Merck is currently experiencing temporary packaging constraints affecting the
immediate availability of the adult formulations of hepatitis A and hepatitis
B vaccines and the pediatric formulation of Hepatitis A. Customers may
experience backorders for these vaccines and may contact (800) 637-2590 for
current information about availability.

Teleconference on ACIP's working process and recent
recommendations is scheduled for December 12

The National Immunization Coalition TA [technical assistance] Network has
scheduled a teleconference on ACIP for December 12 at 1PM ET. The network is
a program of the Center for Health Communication, Academy for Educational
Development.

During the teleconference, presenters from CDC will explain how ACIP works
and makes decisions. In addition, they'll present an update on the changes
made in ACIP recommendations in the last 12 months and those likely to be
made in the future.

To register, send an email to IZTA@aed.org
Include this message: "Sign me up for the ACIP update call."

NFID offers an online CME program highlighting the need
for routine influenza vaccination of children with asthma

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) is offering an online
CME course titled "Re-examining the Impact of Influenza and Benefits of
Immunization: Respiratory viruses in the development of exacerbation of
asthma." The program highlights the need for routine influenza vaccination
for children with asthma, examines how to define the asthmatic child, and
reviews the importance of increasing recognition of the impact of influenza
in this high-risk population.

Surveillance of foodborne-disease outbreaks in the
U.S. in 1998-2002 includes information on hepatitis A outbreaks

On November 10 CDC published "Surveillance for Foodborne-Disease
Outbreaks—United States, 1998-2002" as an MMWR Surveillance Summary.
Information about hepatitis A outbreaks is contained in the body of the
article and in Appendix B, Guidelines for Confirmation of Foodborne-Disease
Outbreaks.

CDC published "Outbreak of Polio in Adults—Namibia, 2006" in the November 10
issue of MMWR. Portions of a summary made available to the press are
reprinted below.

Nineteen young adults in Namibia contracted polio during an outbreak there
beginning in May 2006. The outbreak was traced to poliovirus importation from
neighboring Angola that had originated in India. This outbreak demonstrates
that populations of any age with low immunity against poliovirus are at risk
of the disease. Namibia responded by intensifying surveillance for polio and
by quickly conducting three large-scale immunization rounds, the first one
less than three weeks after the first case was confirmed. No confirmed cases
of polio have been reported in the country since late June, and the outbreak
appears to have been curbed. However, the threat of polio importations from
endemic countries is ongoing.

This website is supported in part by a cooperative agreement from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (Grant No. 5U38IP000290) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. The website content is the sole responsibility of IAC and does not necessarily represent the official views of CDC.